UNICEF To Assist Rivers On Education

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says it is prepared to assist the Rivers State Government with technical inputs to boost the Universal Basic Education programme in the state.

The, UNICEF Country Representative in Nigeria, Mr Charles Nzuki gave the indication yesterday during the signing of the 2011 Programme Implementation Agreement (PIA) between Rivers State and UNICEF at Government House, Port Harcourt.

Mr Nzuki, said his organization was committed to providing technical assistance to the State government in its averred effort to give the children of the State qualitative education, pointing out that UNICEF came to the conclusion following successes attained by the state in the implementation of the education strategic sector plan.

“UNICEF commends the state for the child friendly schools in the state as a result of the construction of over 373 model primary schools that are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities like libraries, computers etc for training primary school children”, he stated.

The country representative also urged the Amaechi‘s administration to put in place mechanism that would ensure that children in “hard to reach communities” of the state access same opportunities that would promote child survival and enhance the potential of the state to meet Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) four and five which include reduction of child mortality and improvement of maternal health.

Mr Nzuki also indicated the preparedness of the world body to partner with the state in the area of data generation which, according to him, is strategic to planning and economic development.

He explained that a recent sentinel survey reveals that HIV prevalence rate in Rivers State is 6 per cent, while the national average rate is 4.1 per cent, and appealed to government to expedite action in the eradication of HIV /AIDS infection in the state.

Responding, Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi expressed the willingness of the State Government to continue to partner with UNICEF even beyond the issues raised.

The Governor, who signed the 2011 Programme Implementation Agreement on behalf of the State Government, reaffirmed the readiness of the State Government to collaborate with UNICEF in data generation, especially the maternal mortality rate in the state, and HIV/AIDS prevalent rate.

Governor Amaechi explained that government needs to know the impact of the presence of new 100 health care centres in the rural areas, to ascertain if the maternal mortality rate in the state has improved.

He assured on the readiness of the Rivers State Government to release its counterpart funds to ensure speedy implementation of the agreement.